Peters



(No Model!) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. A. MOINTIRE.

COPY HOLDER. No. 415,550. Patented Nov. 19, 188:9.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2, J. A; MOINTIRE.

COPY HOLDER. No. 415,550. Patented Nov. 19,1889.

W J0 in, a. MEI/11 tire UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. MCINTIRE, OF MEXICO, MISSOURI.

COPY-HOLDER.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,550, dated November 19, 1889.

Application filed July 15, 1889.

Serial No. 317,588. (No model.)

. as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Figure 1 'is a perspective view of this invention as in condition for use. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail in side elevation showing means to hold the support in fixed position when extended. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the under side of the front plate and means to retain the copy-holder in place. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the mechanism by which the roller is held in any given point in its revolutions; Fig. 6, a detail to show the copy-support.

This invention belongs to that class of devices known as copy-holders and the points of novelty consist in the construction and combination of the parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, whereby acheap, strong, ornamental, easilyoperated and very efiective device is pro duced.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A denotes the front plate of this device, and B the support, which is hinged or otherwise suitably connected to the rear of the front plate near the top, so as to be capable of easy extension for the purpose of forming a support to said plate and hold it in an inclined position ready for the paper that is to be copied to be placed upon it. The lower end of said paper will then rest upon the piece 0, which is adjustably secured upon the face of the front plate and at right angles with its length by means of the thumb screw D, passing through the central longitudinal slot a in the plate and taking into the piece 0. This said piece can be very easily adjusted up or down, so as to be fixed at any desired position upon said plate. The support can be held at any desired angle by means of the spring-catch b at its edge, which can be engaged with any of the holes 0/ in the edge of the car A, attached to one side of the plate .A.

The fiat and narrow piece E, called the indicator, and shown in the drawings as extending across the face of the front plate and parallel with the copy-rest piece 0, is preferably made of metal. It is connected by a cord 2 at each end passing through holes a at the top of the front plate, with the roller F at the rear and near the top of the front plate. This roller has its journals mounted in the ears G, secured to the edges of plate A and projecting rearwardly from it. Said roller is adapted to be automatically wound up by means of the spring (shown in dotted lines) attached to its journal, in like manner as a spring is attached to the ordinary curtain-roller. This piece E will, when the device is being used, rest upon the face of the paper being copied, and not only serve to guide the eye of the copyist or typewriter so as to insure an easy sight of the line to be copied, but will also act as a weight to hold the paper flat on the front plate. By means of the knob e, at or near the middle of the indicator, the indicator can be very easily and conveniently drawn down as fast as the copyist desires. \Vhen it is necessary to have the indicator restored to its position at the top of the plate, the pawl at one edge of the plate near the top is, by touching its handle h, disengaged from the ratchet-wheel I 011 the end of the spring-actuated roller, and the roller then winds up the cord e and so draws up the indicator. The indicator may have graduation-marks along its face.

To support the top end of a very long article that is being copied, the bracket K, bent at one end it, can, by means of the bend, be fixed in the staple L on the rear of the front plate. In this position the main part of it will extend rearwardly, so as to afford a flat and safe support for the end of the articlebeing copied; also to support books that open endwise.

To aid in compact folding, the hole I) is made in the support B, into which the head of the thumb-screw D fits in this position of the several pieces.

By this invention it is thought that all the desired. advantages in this sort of a device are obtained in the most compact and easilyavailable way and manner.

It will be obvious that instead of a broad piece for the support, as now shown, legs can be used; also, thatin the mere location of the spring-roller any .change may be made to suit convenience;

also, that the clamp for the copy-rest piece 0 can be held at the ends instead of the middle; also, that the copy-rest can be integral with the front plate or rigidly secured to it, and in other purely mechanical details of structure many changes can be made without departing from the essential novelty as above set forth and explained. This device can also be readily used as a book-rest for readers or an easel for pictures.

\Vhen the holder is in position, as shown in Fig. 1, the upper part of the bracket K stands horizontal, or nearly so.

That I claim is 1. In a copy-holder, a front plate A, provided with a suitable support whereby it can be held ready for use, and having combined with said plate a movable rest for the lower end of the article copied, and a spring-actuated indicator movable on the face of said plate, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a copy-holder as described, and combined therewith, a movable indicator-piece E, connected with a spring-actuated mechanism, whereby said piece can be adjusted at pleasure on the article being copied, or automatically moved to the top of the front plate of 5. In combination with the indicator-piece E and spring-actuated roller F, the ratchet I upon the end of the roller, and the pawl H, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination of the plate A, having .the adjustable copy-rest O, with the rear support B, movable indicator E, the spring-actuated roller F, having ratchet I, and pawl G, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination, with the front plate A, of the rear plate B, hinged at its top to plate A, the ear A, secured to the edge of the rear plate and provided with the series of adj usting-openings a, and the spring-catch 1), secured to the corresponding edge of the front plate and arranged to engage in any one of said openings, substantially as specified.

8. In a copy-holder, the combination, with the front plate A and the transverse staple L on the rear side of said plate, of the bracket K, having the downwardlybent leg is, arranged to engage and be vertically adjustable in said staple, the upper portion of said bracket being horizontal, or nearly so, when in position, substantially as specified.

9. In a copy-holder, the combination of the front plate A, the movable indicator E, the sprin g-actuated roller, the cord connecting the indicator to said roller, the ratchet I on the end of said roller, and the pawl H, having the pivoted arm h, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. MCINTIRE.

Vitnesses:

JOHN T. ,RICKETTS, DAVID P. MooRE. 

